February 13, 2007, 4:45PM

February 15, 2007, 5:06PM

Where to begin.... If nothing else, i wanted to put out the welcome mat for this blog. The good folks at the Jazz Festival have temporarily lost their better judgement and have invited me, once again, to post my thoughts about the festival and specifically some of the headliner concerts. It's my intention to give you my impressions of six... Full story »

February 16, 2007, 4:50PM

Well, i sure was hoping that my participation in the panel discussion at Portland State (thank you Darrell Grant!!!) about ECM Records would clear up my thoughts on the subject, but it didn't. One thing did become clear to me, though, during the course of the conversation, and that is the fact that regardless of how one feels about... Full story »

February 17, 2007, 8:45AM

February 17, 2007, 11:47AM

The vibes, pardon the expression, in the Big Room (as festival artistic director Bill Royston referred to it) were fantastic, a really terrific way to kick off this year's festival. What i had in mind, going in, was Gary Burton's vibes/piano duo performance here at the Jazz Festival two years ago. At that time, his musical partner was Makoto... Full story »

February 18, 2007, 9:51AM

February 18, 2007, 9:59AM

So much amazing music on Saturday.....i could barely handle it in terms of absorbing it as a listener, but then to have to quickly turn around and write something about it.....one of the reasons i don't think i'd ever want to be a music critic. Things got kicked off Saturday by Geri Allen. Well, actually, no, already that's incorrect.... Full story »

February 18, 2007, 10:47AM

I guess i need to begin this entry with the admission that this was my first opportunity to hear Geri Allen leading her own band in performance. I've long enjoyed and been glad to give airtime to numerous recordings she's made as a leader, both for the Blue Note and Telarc labels, and most particularly her trio albums with... Full story »

February 18, 2007, 2:29PM

Perhaps the most highly anticipated performance of this year's festival was the American premiere of Trygve Seim and his 10-piece ensemble. First off, i think it is at least of some significance that the venue for this concert was a chapel. Of greater significance is the instrumentation of the 10-piece "big band". I found myself thinking of one of... Full story »

February 18, 2007, 11:29PM

During the "jazz dialogue" early Sunday afternoon with Don Byron, which i was lucky enough to moderate, i indicated how much i like the man, both as a musician and just as much as a thinker. In hearing him talk about putting together the music for his Lester Young-inspired recording, Ivey Divey, it becomes clear that a whole lot... Full story »

February 19, 2007, 12:07AM

Okay, four concerts in one day (more like five, given the solo set by Diego Ramirez which kicked the day off just prior Geri Allen's thrilling performance) - - i have to admit that as i worked my way from Don Byron's show to the venue for the Dave Douglas Quintet, i was feeling pretty fried. Funny how great... Full story »